FTC Poised to Sue Amazon for Antitrust Violations Next Week

  • Lawsuit expected to focused on marketplace, Prime subscription
  • Lawsuit marks the agency’s fourth swipe at Amazon this year

Prime membership has been a key differentiator for Amazon, helping it convert occasional shoppers into loyal devotees who make the company their default choice when shopping online.

Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

The Federal Trade Commission is expected to sue Amazon.com Inc. for antitrust violations next week, according to people familiar with the matter – marking the agency’s fourth swipe at the online retail giant this year.

The lawsuit, expected to be filed in federal court by the agency, marks a groundbreaking moment for FTC Chair Lina Khan, who shot to fame as a law student for a legal article about how to rethink antitrust law to apply to Amazon in the digital age.